May 18, 1817 – Birth of János Irinyi, inventor of silent and non-explosive matches

After extensive research, he succeeded in mixing phosphorus with lead dioxide, instead of using potassium chlorate, as had been done up to that time, thus inventing a silent, non-explosive phosphorus.

He patented it on October 24, 1836, and sold his invention to a match manufacturer. However, after studying in Berlin (Germany), he returned to his native country and founded the first match factories in Pest (in present-day Budapest).

He is best known as the inventor of matches. Still, he was also one of the first to spread general chemistry knowledge and to influence the development of the language of chemistry in his country.

If you want to know more about this scientist, click on the link below: János Irinyi